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The Hostage
When the paladins and Coran were alerted to what was going on, it was just so Gard could have their attention. In the ballroom Gard stood with Allura, hands chained behind her back and a cloth tied over her mouth. Llud stood not far from them, looking aside with little pride in what he and his grandfather was doing. Gard was filled with shame in having to stoop so low as well but he hid it far better than his firstborn grandson.
As Shiro stepped into the ballroom his eyes widened in shock at the image before him! Allura was in danger and the one holding the dagger bore a resemblance to one Shire had once met as a gladiator.
"Gard?"
Gard turned his head to the side as the other paladins soon entered. How did this strange creature know his name?
"Princess!" Coran's exclamation brought Gard out of his moment of curiousness. The older Evabon tightened the grip of his left hand on Allura's left arm and held his dagger close to her face.
"One wrong move and Altea's royal family ends right here!" roared Gard. He was bluffing. He would not do such a thing but the fact that he was even making such a bluff frightened Llud.
"Gard, listen to me… I have heard about you from your brother Procyon." The one with the black and white hair spoke and Gard listened the moment he mentioned his brother's name. "You are a man of honor, this is not you, you are not thinking properly."
"Who is this?" asked Llud, turning to face his grandfather.
"No one I have ever met." Gard shoved Allura over to Llud, handing him the dagger and taking his axe from his grandson. "Hold her… Hold her gently." It was the moment that Gard said the word "gently" that everyone relaxed a bit. Shiro allowed himself a smile as he learned that Gard matched his brother's description perfectly. It was the taking of the axe that caused everyone to stay on edge though. Gard walked over to Shiro but kept a reasonable enough distance from him. His good eye scanned the other paladins and then he looked at Shiro. All were armed with a weapon with the color of one of the lions save for him. "Where is yours?"
"Lost." Replied Shiro.
"And you know my brother how?"
"We were gladiators." Stated Shiro.
"You killed him."
"No."
"He took your arm."
"Yes… No… I don't know." Admitted Shiro.
"Is he alive?"
"No."
"What happened?"
"I don't know. I saw you and then I remembered only a bit." Stated Shiro.
"What do you have to prove this?" asked Gard. "You could have been with him for a few days before being sent to a different—" Shiro took an amulet from his pocket and handed it to Gard. That was some preparation. The amulet was golden with a red crystal in the shape of a sparkling star on it. It was Procyon's.